Bermuda News

Anderson wins Corporation of St George seat | The Royal Gazette:Bermuda News

Fiona McWhirter

Published Feb 6, 2019 at 8:00 am
(Updated Feb 6, 2019 at 8:03 am)

In her father’s footsteps: Cyniqua Anderson hugs a Town of St George resident at the Penno’s Wharf cruise ship terminal for yesterday’s municipal election for the councillor’s seat left vacant after her father, Phillip “Phoopa” Anderson died in December. A businesswoman, Ms Anderson defeated Mark Soares 237-73 (Photograph by Akil Simmons)

A businesswoman will continue her father’s work for the Corporation of St George after she won an election to represent the town as a councillor.

Cyniqua Anderson beat Mark Soares by more than three votes to one at the polls yesterday.

She is the daughter of Phillip “Phoopa” Anderson, whose death last year created the vacancy.

Ms Anderson claimed 237, or 76.45 per cent, of the 310 votes cast.

The total number of registered voters for the extraordinary municipal election was 1,326, meaning turnout was about 23 per cent.

Ms Anderson is the owner of Just Dreams Event Management and design firm Decor, both based in St George’s.

Her father was elected a councillor for the Corporation of St George in 2012 and died in December, aged 58.

Ms Anderson told The Royal Gazette previously: “Notwithstanding the desire to continue with my father’s dedication to the town and impactful work, I am a child of the soil.

“I have lived in St George’s my entire life and have seen how the community has been shaped.”

She added: “I have strong ties to this town and, essentially, a duty to run for this post to ensure that St George’s is a place that inspires others to see what I see in the often overlooked parish of Bermuda.”

Mr Soares, the owner of the town’s Bermuda Yacht Services, has been chairman of the East End division of the Chamber of Commerce and cofounder of the St George’s Marine Expo.

He said after polls closed yesterday: “More people came out than I thought, I guess I didn’t really know what to expect.

“I understand close to 300 or more came out ... it’s a great turnout.

“It’s nice to see that people care and come out to cast their vote and voice their opinion; that’s greatly appreciated.”

Mr Soares believed he and his fellow community members were “all concerned citizens” and the voters were interested in typical issues such as policing and taking care of the municipality’s streets.

Results were published on the Parliamentary Registry website shortly before 9.20pm.

They came several hours after Ms Anderson was declared prematurely as the winner when the site was being put through its paces.

Tenia Woolridge, the Parliamentary Registrar, explained last night: “During the testing of the Parliamentary Registry website earlier today, test data was inputted and some visitors to the site may have seen a winner declared.